Category Archives: Health

More in-school clinics could be key to raising vaccination rates for kids: doctors

The province with the highest vaccination rate for five- to 11-year-old kids began providing the COVID-19 vaccine at schools as soon as it was approved for children, and some pediatricians say the strategy in Newfoundland and Labrador could serve as a lesson for other jurisdictions. While nearly three-quarters of kids in the Atlantic province have […]

Mental health visits by doctors up 27 per cent in first year of COVID-19, study says

The annual rate of outpatient mental health and substance use visits by Ontario doctors increased 27 per cent in the first year of the COVID-19 crisis, a new study suggests, raising concerns about the pandemic’s psychological toll across the medical profession. A paper published in JAMA Network Open on Friday found there were 1,038 visits […]

Study: First Nations children’s health impacted by poor housing conditions

A study on indoor air quality and housing characteristics in isolated First Nations communities found elevated rates of respiratory infections and wheezing in young children, which authors associate with poor conditions within their homes. Researchers analyzed factors that could affect respiratory health in four First Nations communities in the Sioux Lookout region of northern Ontario, […]

Beware of claims that promise to boost your immune system through superfoods or supplements, experts say

Just about every futurist in the wellness space predicted that “immune support” or “immune boosting” would be trending in 2022. Given Omicron, it was a safe bet. And, from the looks of my inbox, which is full of pitches for everything from oil of oregano to goji berries and vitamin D to quercetin, it’s already […]

Canadian trial: remdesivir reduces need for ventilation by half for COVID patients

A Canadian study suggests the antiviral medication remdesivir could have a “modest but significant effect” on COVID-19 patient outcomes, including decreasing the need for mechanical ventilation by approximately 50 per cent. The study, published Wednesday in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, is billed as the largest single-country trial of remdesivir reported to date. Results are […]

Re-wearing disposable masks? Experts weigh in on extending life of pricey respirators

Many Canadians are upping their face mask game as the more transmissible Omicron variant fuels of a fifth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. But high-quality respirators including N95s, KN95s and KF94s don’t run cheap, especially if people have to replace them after each use. One online retailer offers bulk packs of N95s including 10 masks […]

Toronto influencers help cut through false messaging on dieting

It’s January and no doubt your feeds are inundated with dieting propaganda. But through the clutter of random advice and tips from anyone with an social media account, you’ll find Toronto influencers Abbey Sharp, 34, of @AbbeysKitchen and Jordana Hart, 33, of @iHartNutrition. Not only do they promote healthy messaging, but they’re anti diet-culture, body […]